Anonymous
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
August 16, 2021
On Sunday, August 15, 2021, at around 5:00 a.m. officers from the California Highway Patrol were conducting a traffic collision investigation along the northbound lanes of Highway 101 just north of the Gaviota tunnel when they discovered a motorcycle and a deceased male in the bushes. A records check revealed the motorcycle was associated with missing person, John Mario Fuegos of Lompoc.
After further examination, it was confirmed that the deceased male was John Mario Fuegos. Next of kin has been notified of Mr. Fuegos’ death.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal motorcycle collision.
Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
June 4, 2021
Sheriff’s Detectives have received updated information about the motorcycle associated with missing person, John Mario Fuegos of Lompoc.
Detectives shared initial information about this case yesterday, and would like to share an updated description of the motorcycle Fuegos was riding along with a photo of a similar motorcycle.
Fuegos was last seen on Monday, May 24, 2021 at around 11:00 p.m. when he left his residence riding a black 2008 Yamaha R1 with a license plate 23W0957. The Yamaha R1 had sections of the plastic fairing removed around the front end. The photo below looks similar to Fuegos’ motorcycle.
Anyone who might have seen John Mario Fuegos or know his possible whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigations Bureau at (805)681-4150. You can also call the anonymous tip line at (805)681-4171, or submit information online at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip .
Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
June 3, 2021
Sheriff’s detectives are reaching out to the public for assistance in locating a missing Lompoc man. On Friday, May 28, 2021 at approximately 3:00 p.m., the wife of 50-year-old John Mario Fuegos reported him missing with the Lompoc Police Department. Fuegos reportedly left his residence in Lompoc around 11:00 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2021, riding a black 2003 Suzuki (unknown model) motorcycle with a California license plate 22P6615. Fuegos’ intended destination was in Arizona, but at around 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, he texted his family to say that he was in Filmore and would be heading back home. Fuegos sent his family another text message at around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 and he has not been heard from since.
On Tuesday, June 1, 2021, Fuegos’ wife contacted Sheriff’s Dispatch and requested that deputes check the highways for any sign of Fuegos or his motorcycle. Deputies drove along Highway 101 and Highway 1, while CHP Air Support searched the same area from the air, but Fuegos was not located.
On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, based on cell phone records, deputies searched the area of Toro Canyon Road, San Ysidro, Highway 192 and Highway 101 on the ground while CHP Air Support searched the same area from above. Unfortunately, neither Fuegos nor his motorcycle were located.
Fuegos’ cell phone records indicate that he possibly spent several hours at the Jack-In-The-Box restaurant on Citrus Drive in Ventura in the early morning hours of May 25, 2021, but detectives were unable to locate him on any of the video surveillance at that location.
Detectives are now reaching out to our community for assistance. John Mario Fuegos was last seen wearing motorcycle type clothing and riding a black Suzuki street bike with a California license plate 22P6615. Anyone who might have seen him or know his possible whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigations Bureau at (805)681-4150. You can also call the anonymous tip line at (805)681-4171, or submit information online at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip .
This is on CHP- They should have had a Helo Search coordinated between Lompoc and Ventura the day after he was missing- I’m so disgusted with the 1/2 ass policing from CHP and SB County Sheriff’s Dept. This is so bad- Welcome to the Third World Country of California.
really? That thought did not cross your mind until you read it? We always lambast folks for vocalizing “ugly” thoughts, but realistically it does not matter if it was vocalized. The tragedy is the tragedy and I guarantee the family has already had those thoughts. Reading them changes nothing, and if they are on a public forum reading comments about a loved ones death, they are gluttons for punishment. Everyone knows the public can be a bunch of callous keyboard ninjas. I am glad they found him. Regardless of his past, he was loved by someone and they deserve closure. Finding a missing person/body is not as easy as one (coastwatch) would think. That is a HUGE area to cover! We have an amazing Search and Rescue team. I owe them a lifetime of thanks for my own personal tragedy.
As a motorcyclist, this story is agonizing. What if he crashed by no fault of his own (an animal ran out in front of him?) and was critically injured but not killed, no one saw the incident, and he laid there for days until he died? His loved ones have been wondering what happened to him for months! And now they know he died alone, after potentially suffering for hours or days. It’s really tragic.
By the way Coastwatch, using this sad story as a reason to insult local law enforcement and California is revolting. So self-absorbed. Shame on you.